Tag Archives for AARP Fraud Watch Network

Congress Moves on a National Anti-Scam Strategy to Protect Older Adults

Published in RINewsToday on December 8, 2025

Last month, the AARP, recognizing that the holiday season leading up to Christmas is widely viewed as “prime time” for scams targeting older Americans, released findings from its 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey. According to the AARP Fraud Watch Network, fraud aimed at online shoppers and holiday donors continues to skyrocket.

With Christmas fast approaching, millions of Americans are preparing to shop and give online. The Survey, released just nine days before Thanksgiving, reveals that a majority of U.S. adults (89%) have encountered at least one scam. These include fake notifications about shipment issues (55%), phony charity appeals (35%), misleading digital ads (39%), and even the physical theft of packages from porches (30%). More than half of adults said they received a fake shipping notice this year, while nearly four in ten encountered deceptive ads on social media.

“Criminals are relentless during the holidays, exploiting the many opportunities that come with a busy season—from shopping and traveling to charitable giving,” said Kathy Stokes, Director of Fraud Prevention Programs at the AARP Fraud Watch Network, in a Nov. 18 statement.  “Understanding how they operate is the first step toward protecting yourself and your loved ones,” she says.

Although online scams continue to rise, many consumers still prefer using debit cards—even though recouping funds taken from a victim’s bank account often takes far longer than resolving a disputed credit card charge. Still, the report shows that safer payment habits are gaining ground.

While 72% of consumers plan to use a debit card this year, credit card use is up significantly from 2024 (64%), with nearly seven in ten planning to use a credit card during the upcoming holiday season.

The survey also found that 64% of consumers who plan to purchase gift cards this season expect to buy them off the rack at retail stores, such as grocery stores or pharmacies. This continues to be a major vulnerability: 33% of U.S. adults reported giving or receiving a gift card with no balance. Fraudsters often record the card number, expose and reseal the PIN, then wait for activation before draining the funds.

Consumers are increasingly targeted through peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps as well, with two in five users reporting that they have sent money to someone they did not know. Despite growing awareness, many people still underestimate the risks of using debit cards or fail to verify charitable organizations before donating.

New Federal Plan Aims to Protect Seniors

AARP’s survey found that 92% of respondents—across liberal, moderate, and conservative viewpoints—want Congress to do more to protect older adults from fraud. And Congress appears to be listening.

Last week, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, held a Dec. 4 virtual press conference announcing the introduction of S. 3355, National Strategy for Combating Scams Act of 2025, legislation aimed at providing stronger safeguards for seniors this holiday season and beyond. This bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Gillibrand warned that financial scams, which cost Americans more than $16 billion last year, disproportionately harm older adults.

Throughout the event, Gillibrand underscored the economic hardship caused when older adults lose money to fraud. She noted the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, which is enabling scammers to create more sophisticated and “hyper-realistic imposter scams” that require immediate government action.

Senate cosponsors include Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL). H.R. 6425, companion legislation is being led in the House by Reps. Gabe Amo (D-RI) and Derek Schmidt (R-KS).  Hopefully, we’ll see Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) join Rep. Eleanor Homes Del Norton (D-District of Columbia) and Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) as cosponsors.

According to Gillibrand, more than four in ten Americans say they have lost money to scams or had their sensitive information stolen. Older adults account for an estimated 30% of financial losses, with an average loss of $83,000 per incident. Gillibrand shared the story of a 75-year-old man who received up to five scam calls each day and a senior woman who lost $39,000.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), often referred to as Congress’s watchdog, recently identified at least 13 federal agencies conducting anti-scam efforts, each working independently under different mandates. GAO recommended that the FBI take the lead in establishing a unified National Strategy for Combating Scams. Gillibrand’s bill would give the FBI a legal obligation to implement that framework.

During the press conference, Gillibrand also addressed underreporting, noting that many victims—like her own aunt who lost $5,000 to a scammer impersonating an FBI agent—feel too embarrassed to tell family members or law enforcement. She shared the story in response to a question from Brian O’Neill, host of Newsmaker on WLEA Radio, underscoring how shame and secrecy allow scammers to continue exploiting vulnerable individuals.

“I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to help make sure seniors don’t get scrooged this holiday season,” said Gillibrand. “It’s clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors, and this legislation would bring that to fruition. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill across the finish line.”

Sen.Rick Scott (R-FL), chair of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, added: “Families across the country are being hammered by increasingly sophisticated scams, and Washington has been far too slow to respond. This bipartisan effort finally brings federal agencies together, cuts duplication, and creates a real national plan to protect seniors and hardworking Americans.

AARP, which represents 125 million adults age 50 and over, strongly endorses the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act of 2025. “The strategy encourages smarter use of technology, better data collection, and stronger partnerships with banks, tech companies, and law enforcement to help prevent scams and support victims. And it prioritizes making resources easier to access, providing more effective recovery for those who’ve been targeted,” says AARP’s Jennifer Jones, vice president of Financial Security & Livable Communities, Government Affairs.

House Considers Companion Anti-Scam Bill

On the House side, Rep. Amo introduces a companion measure (H.R. 6425). “Too many Rhode Islanders have been taken for a ride by scammers skimming their pockets and stealing their hard-earned money, leaving many devastated and destitute,” he said. “I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to ensure we are addressing the rising scam threat in a coordinated and strategic manner.”

According to the FBI, Rhode Islanders lost $6,309,411 to senior fraud in 2024 alone. Earlier this year, Amo launched the bipartisan Stop Scams Caucus to combat financial fraud, cyber scams, and cross-border criminal networks. In Rhode Island, he also convened a roundtable discussion at the Middletown Senior Center focused on scam prevention.

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act is endorsed by a broad coalition of national organizations, including AARP, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, Chamber of Progress, Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Justice in Aging, the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), National Association of Social Workers, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, National Sheriffs’ Association, Stop Scams Alliance, and many others.

To view AARP’s holiday scam report, go to https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/topics/work-finances-retirement/fraud-consumer-protection/holiday-shopping-scams-2025.doi.10.26419-2fres.00992.001.pdf

Protecting your hard earned money from Holiday scammers 

Published in RINewsToday on December 18, 2023

f the Christmas holidays and consumers ramping up their holiday shopping, the Washington, DC AARP warns shoppers to be aware of the uptick of scams. A new 2023 AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM report puts the spotlight on how criminals target consumers during the holiday season.  

According to the report, 80% of U.S. consumers say that they have experienced some type of fraud in 2023 – many occurring during holiday shopping season.  The researchers say that these scams have increased from last year’s report, from receiving fake notifications about shipments, to online ad scams, and more.

“The concerning findings from our annual survey are that fraud is on the rise and that knowledge about how to stay safe from fraud is dropping,” said Kathy Stokes, AARP Director of Fraud Prevention Programs in a December press release announcing this year’s findings. “Education plays an important role in combating fraud, but we can’t educate our way out of what is now a rampant issue,” she said.

AARP’s report noted that in 2023 significantly more consumers plan on shopping online compared to the last two years. With this increase in internet shopping, scammers often place fake ads online and across popular social media sites offering steep discounts on the hottest items. 

Although peer-to-peer payment platforms such as Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, and Zelle, etc. have been around for awhile, they have become increasingly popular as a way to make online payments to businesses. Consumers turn to these platforms for convenience, speed and security.  

According to AARP’s findings, the use of these services have increased significantly for a second year in a row. A large majority of respondents shared they do business those, or similar, apps – such as sending money to businesses they have no previous relationship with. In the unfortunate event of fraud, these apps provide little protection to scammed consumers, warns the report.

Gift cards continue to be popular gifts, 66% of those surveyed planning to purchase them this holiday season. However, 27% of consumers have experienced either giving or receiving a gift card with no monetary value on it. “Criminals have old-school ways of manipulating cards hanging on retail racks and high-tech ways of searching online for cards with balances and draining them,” says AARP’s Stokes. “It may be safest to purchase a gift card directly from the card issuer’s website,” she notes.

In a 10-question fraud knowledge quiz that was again part of this year’s AARP survey, most respondents failed with only 28% of being able to answer only 7 or more questions correctly.   The quiz results call for the need to make consumers aware that retailers will never request your login information to provide customer support.  

AARP’s recently released report suggests: 

It’s better to use credit cards for purchasing gifts because they offer the most consumer protections of any payment method.

It’s important to regularly accept some upgrade prompts for your devices because these updates are to patch known fraud vulnerabilities.

It’s risky to do a web search for a company’s customer support network because criminals buy ads impersonating those companies. Check billing and credit card statements for customer service, use the number on the back of your credit cards, or go directly to the company by typing in their web address, like www.aarp.org.

AARP Rhode Island – Fighting Fraudsters

“AARP Rhode Island works hard every day to make sure that Rhode Islanders have all the information they need to protect themselves and their families from scams, especially around the holidays,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “We hold regular fraud-prevention tele-town halls, our Speakers Bureau volunteers give free Fraud Watch presentations to audiences across the state, and we fight fraud via AARP’s Fraud Watch network (www.aarp.org/fraudwatch), which provides vital information and scam alerts. Anyone can subscribe for free,” she says.

“Last summer, AARP Rhode Island held free document shredding events around the state where more than 900 people dropped off nine tons of documents,” Taylor added. “And we are so pleased that the General Assembly passed our bill to address gift card fraud this year. Retailers are now required to post warnings to consumers that it is always a scam if someone asks you to buy a gift care to pay a bill or fee.  If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam,” she says.

Approaching holidays gives more opportunities for deception says RI Attorney General

“The best way Rhode Islanders can avoid falling victim to a scam during the holiday season, and year-round, is to stay vigilant and stay educated,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. “Scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated in the way they target their victims, and the holidays provide new opportunities for deception. Rhode Islanders can and should call our office or visit our website for advice and information if they are faced with a possible scam situation.”

Watch out for text or phone scams that appear to be from UPS, FedEx, or other mail services, warns the AG’s Consumer Unit. This can be as simple as a text message stating that UPS tried to deliver a package, but was unable to do so, or as deceptive as a phone call telling a consumer they will not receive their package unless they pay money in cash or gift cards. Consumers should not click on any links they receive via text message or Facebook message from numbers they do not know.

The AG’s Consumer Unit says that paying by credit card gives consumers more protection than other forms of payment. The payment apps mentioned (Cash App, Zelle, PayPal, etc.) cannot offer the same level of protection as paying by credit card. Gifts cards and cash payments are a red flag that a consumer may be the victim or potential victim of a scammer. Do not buy from individuals who request payment outside of a trusted online marketplace’s payment system.

Always do your own research.  A consumer may be able to quickly determine whether they are being targeted by scammer from a simple online search including keywords and “scam” or “complaint.” User feedback on the Better Business Bureau website may also help consumers identify whether the company they are interacting with is legitimate or fraudulent, says the AG’s Consumer Unit.  

Before spending hard-earned money on an opportunity, good, or service that may be a scam, consumers can reach out to our Consumer Unit with questions or concerns at (401) 274-4400 (prompt 1). An investigator or attorney will get back in touch as soon as possible. Alternatively, consumers may file a complaint online at http://riag.ri.gov/forms/consumer-complaint.

To read the full 2023 AARP Fraud Watch Network Report and learn more visit: www.aarp.org/holidayscams2023

Additional Resources:

Finally, AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM is a free resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with our fraud helpline specialists who provide support and guidance on what to do next. Anyone can call the helpline at 877-908-3360. AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM also offers free, facilitated peer discussion groups that seek to provide emotional support for those experiencing fraud; and advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.

For a copy of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, “Fighting Fraud: Top Scams in 2023, go to https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fraud_book_2023__english.pdf.

Fraud Victimization is a Chronic, Escalating Problem for Seniors

Published in the Pawtucket Times on March 8, 2021

Everyone has heard of the ago old proverb, “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.”  After being tricked once, hopefully a person learns from one’s mistakes and avoids being tricked in the same way again.   But for many victims of financial fraud, this is not the case.

Last week, AARP, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) and Heart+Mind Strategies released a four-phase study that identifies evidence-based ways to help repeat victims of financial fraud and their families to avoid being tricked again.

The study’s researchers note that over the years intervention strategies have generally remained the same, while the sophistication of the scammers continues to evolve.  This new study, “Addressing the Challenge of Chronic Fraud Victimization,” released on March 4, provides “new thinking” as to how to support victims of financial fraud and scams who are repeated targeted and fall victim to sophisticated scammers.

According to the study, some of the common tactics used savvy scammers include: playing upon fear, need, excitement, and urgency; making threats; creating a belief of scarcity; using the victim’s personal life and history to create trust; and using emotional stimuli, like hope of winning a prize or finding love, to lure in the victim. 

 The Chronic Fraud Victimization study, published during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), scheduled from February 28 to March 6, uses a behavior model to help illuminate factors that may contribute to repeat or chronic victimization by financial fraud schemes.

Looking at Chronic Fraud Victimization

According to AARP, “about one-in-ten U.S. adults are victims of fraud each year, losing billions of dollars annually to criminals through a variety of scams, including natural disaster scams, fake charities, fake prize promotions, and government imposter scams, such as Social Security and Medicare scams.”

“The drivers behind chronic fraud victimization have remained a mystery, so this study is an important step to being able to stop the cycle,” said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention programs and leader of the AARP Fraud Watch Network in a statement announcing the release of the study findings on March 4. “Chronic fraud can give targets and their families a sense of helplessness. By gaining a better understanding of the target’s drivers, we are hopeful there can be more meaningful interventions to disrupt and end the cycle,” notes Stokes.

Last year, the FINRA Foundation and the AARP Fraud Watch Network engaged Heart+Mind Strategies to deploy a four-phased study of chronic fraud victimization to uncover evidence-based concepts for effective interventions. The study’s goal was to generate new ways of thinking as to how to best support the individuals and families repeatedly targeted and victimized by financial scams and fraud. The study’s researchers accomplished this goal by reviewing existing literature, interviewing subject matter experts, chronic victims of financial fraud, and family members of victims, and finally, hosting two expert roundtables as a part of the study.

“This research provides a new lens through which to identify key intervention strategies that could disrupt the cycle of chronic fraud victimization at one or more points along the path to victimization,” adds Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Foundation. “We hope it stimulates additional attention to the need for effective interventions that may reduce chronic fraud victimization,” she says.

The 13-page study found that chronic fraud victimization may be a consequence of chronic susceptibility due to certain situational factors that disrupt judgement and derail good intentions. The researchers say that one of the most effective ways to reduce chronic fraud victimization may be to reduce chronic susceptibility. However, they note that chronic susceptibility can be challenging to identify and address. The study offers ideas for managing other factors, such as triggers that elicit an emotional response and the ability to access funds, which may be more scalable ways to reduce fraud victimization rates or counteract the negative consequences associated with being a victim.

The study identified the importance of fraud education but acknowledged that victims or would-be victims do not consider themselves as such, and consequently may not seek out help or absorb anti-fraud messaging. So, creating more in-the-moment education and intervention opportunities could be more effective approach, say the researchers. Partnering with clergy and counselors, or locations such as hair salons and churches, could provide more powerful messages and tools for potential or repeat victims, they note.

The researchers concluded that preventing chronic fraud victimization is a challenging task in the absence of interventions and individualized support.  However, even after a person has been scammed,  intervention is possible to lessen chronic fraud victimization and its impact.

Tapping into Free Resources

Anyone who suspects a fraud or has a family member experiencing chronic fraud can call the free AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 or visit aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork for more information. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with fraud helpline specialists, who provide support and guidance on what to do next. The Fraud Watch Network also advocates at the federal, state and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.

Investors with questions or concerns surrounding their brokerage accounts and investments can also contact the FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors toll free at 844-57-HELPS (844-574-3577) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET. FINRA staff can help investors with concerns about potential fraud or unsuitable or excessive trading; answer questions about account statements or basic investment concepts, and assist beneficiaries who are having trouble locating or transferring their deceased parents’ assets.

According to AARP, the Washington, DC-based aging group and FINRA Foundation have a long history of collaboration on research and programs that explore and combat financial fraud. Working together, the Foundation and AARP Fraud Watch Network’s fraud fighter call centers, have conducted outreach to more than 1.7 million consumers, enabling them to identify, avoid and report financial fraud.

National Consumer Protection Week is a time to help people understand their consumer rights and make well-informed financial decisions about money.